Bench or seat.



S. E. OVERTONa BENCH 0R SEAT.

{PPLICATION FILED 001.18.1918.

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SAMUEL E. OVERTON, OF SOUTH HAVEN, MICHIGAN.

BENCH OR SEAT.

Application filed October 18. 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL E. OVERTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Haven, in the county of Van Enron and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Benches or Seats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in benches or seats.

My improvements are particularly designed by me for embodiment in benches or seats known to the trade as piano benches, and I have illustrated my improvements in the accompanying drawing in a structure of that type. Certain features are, however, desirable for use in other relations.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved knockdown bench or seat which may be readily assenr bled and one which when assembled is very strong and rigid.

Second, to provide an improved knockdown bench or seat which when in the knockdown may be very compactly arranged for shipment or storage.

Third, to provide an improved knockdown bench or seat in which the parts are economical to produce and may be quickly assembled by an unskilled person or workman or by the user, without the aid of tools other than a screw driver.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is a perspective view of a structure embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. II is a detail plan view with the top omitted.

Fig. III is a detail vertical section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. II, showing details of the leg securing means and other structural features.

Fig. IV is a detail section on a line corre sponding to line '-it of Fig. I, showing means for detachably securing the cross bar to the. legs.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

. Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

Serial Nb. 258,692.

Fig. V is a horizontal section on a line corresponding to line of Fig. I, showing details of the leg structure.

Fig. VI is a detail inverted view, showing the details of the detachable connection for the longitudinal rail to the cross bar.

Fig. VII is a detail section on a line corresponding to line 77 of Figs. I and VI.

Fig. VIII is a detail vertical section on a line corresponding to line 88 of Fig. I, showing the top open.

Fig. IX is a detail perspective view showing a leg provided with a capital.

Fig. X is a detail vertical section on a line corresponding to line 1010 of Fig. IX.

Referring to the drawing, I provide a rigid, permanently assembled, rectangular frame or bed, designated generally by the numeral 1, and formed of side pieces 2 and end pieces 8 having, in the structure illustrated, miter-ed joints. The inner sides of the frame pieces, in the embodiment illustrated, are grooved at 4 to receive the edges of the bottom 5. Fillet blocks 6 are arranged in the corners, the fillet blocks being permanently secured in position by glue or otherwise so that they constitute reinforcing members for the frame. Below the bottom the corner blocks 7 are permanently secured in position. The lower faces of these corner blocks 7 are flush with the lower edges of the frame members 2 and 3.

The upper ends of the legs 8 abut the lower edges of the frame members and corner blocks 7. The legs have longitudinal bores 9 therein in which are seated nuts 10. The nuts 10 are securely retained in the legs by filler blocks 11 superimposed thereon and glued in the bores. These filler blocks preferably have spiral grooves .12 which permit their being inserted more easily and the grooves also permit the glue to work or spread more thoroughly as the blocks are inserted.

The corner blocks 6 and'7, the bottom 5, and these filler blocks have alined holes for the attaching bolts 13. The bolts 13 clamp the legs securely to the frame and provide a strong rigid connection. The corner fillets 7 are preferably countersunk at 14: to receive the heads of the bolts.

The legs are connected in pairs by cross bars 15. These cross bars are arranged with their ends abutting the inner sides of the legs and have longitudinal bores 16 therein 'in which the nuts 17 are seated and retained rail by screws 24 and to the under side of the cross bars by screws 25 which are disposed at each side of the mortises (see Fig. v1

When a bottom 5 is present the top 26 is preferably hinged to the frame at 27 so that it may be opened to permit articles, such as sheet music, to be placed in the compartmrnt within'the frame. A slotted link 28 supports the cover in its open position. When the structure is disassembled the legs, the leg cross bars, and the longitudinal rail may be arranged within the compartment for transportation or storage.

The parts of the structure are simple and economical to produce and the structure is of advantage even whn it is to be assembled in the factory. However, it is particularly desirable for use in shipping in the knockdown and this is of special advantage at the present time when it is desirable to relieve as much as possible the burden on transportation, and is in compliance with requirement or rquests of the railroad ad ministration to this end.

A further advantage of this construction is that the ornamentation for the legs may be made as desired. If beading or other scroll work is desired, it may be added to the frame, thus enabling the manufacture of the plain frames which may be conveniently stored in large quantities and the ornamentation thereof made according to order, thus resulting in a very great saving of lumber as well as labor.

In the modifiiation shown in Figs. IX and X the legs are provided with horizontal capitals 29 which are in the form of caps fitting over the upper ends of the legs so that they are clamped in position, thereby constituting, in effect, a part of the leg.

I have illustrated and described my improv'ments in one form in which I have and end members disposed on edge, said side and end members being grooved on their inner sides to receive a bottom, a bottom board arranged with its edges in said grooves, corner fillet blocks secured in the corners of said frame above said bottom board with their lower ends thereon, corner blocks disposed in the corners of said frame below said bottom, pairs of legs disposed with their upper ends abutting the lower edges of the frame members and the lower corner blocks, said legs having nuts seated in longitudinal bores in their ends and retained therein by superimposed filler bloiks glued in the bores, said corner blocks, bottom, and filler blo;ks having alined vertical bores therein, bolts arranged through said borcs to engage said nuts whereby the legs are supported and clamped to the frame, cross bars for said pairs of legs disposed with their ends abutting the inner sides of the legs and having nuts seated in longitudinal bores in their ends and retained therein by superimposed filler blocks glued in the bores, bolts arranged through the legs and said filler blocks to engage said nuts whereby the cross bars are deta hably secured to the legs, a longitudinal rail provided with dove-tailed tenons at its ends, said crossbars having dove-tailed mortises for said tenons open at the bottom of'the cross bars, coupling plates at the ends of said rail projecting under said cross bars and secured thereto by screws disposed at each side of said mortises therein, and a top hinged to said frame whereby when the legs, rail, and cross bars are disassembled they may be packed within the frame.

2. In a knockdown bench, the combination of a rectangular frame comprising side and end members disposed on edge, corner fillet blocks secured in the corners of said frame, pairs of legs disposed with their upper ends abutting the lower edges of the frame, said legs having nuts seated in longitudinal bores in their ends and retained therein by superimposed filler blo ks glued in the bores, said corner blocks, bottom, and filler blocks having alined vertical bores therein, bolts arranged through said bores to engage said nuts whereby the legs are supported and clamped to the frame, cross bars for said pairs of legs disposed with their ends abutting the inner sides of the legs and having nuts seated in longitudinal 1 jecting under said cross bars and secured thereto by screws disposed at each side of said mortises therein, and a top on said frame.

3. In a knockdown bench, the combination of a rectangular frame comprising side and end members disposed on edge, said side and end members being grooved on their inner sides to receive a bottom, a bottom board arranged with its edges in said grooves, corner fillet bloiks secured in the corners of said frame above said bottom with thelr lower ends thereon, corner blocks disposed in the corners of said frame below said bottom, pairs of legs disposed with their upper ends abutting the lower edges of the frame members and the lower corner blocks, said legs having nuts seated in longitudinal bores in their ends and retained therein by superimposed filler blocks glued in the bores, said corner blocks, bottom, and filler blocks having alined vertical bores therein, bolts arranged through said bores to engage said nuts whereby the legs are supported and clamped to the frame, and a top hinged to said frame whereby when the legs, rail, and cross bars are disassembled they may be packed within the frame.

4. In a knockdown bench, the combination of a rectangular frame comprising side and end members disposed on edge, corner fillet blocks secured in the corners of said frame, pairs of legs disposed with their upper ends abutting the lower edges of the frame, said legs having nuts seated in longi- 'tudinal bores in their ends and retained therein by superimposed filler blocks glued in the bores, said corner blocks, bottom, and filler blocks having alined vertical bores therein, bolts arranged through said bores to engage said nuts whereby the legs are supported and clamped to the frame, and a top on said frame.

5. In a knockdown bench, the combination of a frame, legs disposed with their upper ends abutting the frame, said legs having nuts seated in longitudinal bores in their upper ends and retained therein by superimposed filler blocks glued in the bores, bolts arranged through the frame to engage said nuts whereby the legs are supported. and clamped to the frame, cross bars for said legs disposed with their ends abutting the inner sides of the legs and having nuts seated in longitudinal bores in their ends and retained by superimposed filler blocks glued in the bores, bolts arranged in said legs and filler blocks to engage said nuts whereby the cross bars are detachably secured to the legs, a longitudinal rail provided with dovetailed tenons at its ends, said cross bars having dovetailed mortises for said tenons open at the bottom of the cross bars, coupling plates at the ends of said rail projecting under said cross bars and secured thereto by screws disposed at each side of the mortises therein, and a top on said frame covering the said leg attaching bolts.

6. In a knockdown bench, the combination of a frame, legs disposed with their upper ends abutting the frame, said legs having nuts seated in longitudinal bores in their upper ends and retained therein by superimposed filler blocks glued in the bores, bolts arranged through the frame to engage said nuts whereby the legs are supported and clamped to the frame, cross bars for said legs disposed with their ends abutting the inner sides of the legs and having nuts seated in longitudinal bores in their ends and retained by superimposed filler blocks glued in the bores, bolts arranged in said legs and filler blocks to engage said nuts whereby the cross bars are detachably secured to the legs, a longitudinal rail detachably secured to said cross bars, and a top on said frame covering the said leg attaching bolts. 4

7. In a knockdown bench, the combination of a frame, legs disposed with their upper ends abutting the frame, said legs having nuts seated in their upper ends, bolts arranged through the frame to engage said nuts whereby the legs are supported and clamped to the frame, cross bars for said legs, a longitudinal rail provided with dovetailed tenons at its ends, said cross bars having dovetailed mortises for said tenons open at the bottom of the cross bars, coupling plates at the ends of said rail projecting under said cross bars and secured thereto by screws disposed at each side of the mortises therein, and atop on said frame covering the.

said leg attaching screws.

8. In aknockdown stool or bench, the combination of a rectangular frame comprising side and end members disposed on edge, said side and end members being grooved on their inner sides to receive a bottom, a bottom board arranged with its edges in said grooves, corner fillet blocks secured in the corners of said frame above said bottom board with their lower ends thereon, corner blocks disposed in the corners of said frame below said bottom, pairs of legs disposed with their upper ends abutting the lower edges of the frame members and the lower corner blocks, said legs having nuts seated in their upper ends, said corner blocks and bottom having alined vertical bores therein, and a top on said frame covering said leg attaching bolts.

9. In a knockdown stool or bench, the combination of a rectangular frame comprising side and end members disposed on edge, corner fillet blocks secured in the corners of said frame, legs disposed with their upper ends abutting the lower edges of the frame, said legs having nuts seated in their upper l. l (l ends, said corner blocks having vertical bores therein, and a top on said frame covering said leg attaching bolts.

1O.v In a knockdown stool or frame, the combination of a rectangular frame comprising side and end members disposed on edge, corner fillet blocks secured in the corners of said frame, legs disposed With their upper ends abutting the lower edges of the frame, said legs having nuts seated in their upper ends, said corner blocks having vertical bores therein, bolts arranged through said bores to engage said nuts whereby the legs are supported and clamped to the frame, crossbars for said pairs of legs detachably secured thereto, a longitudinal rail detachably secured to said cross bars, and a top on said frame covering said leg attaching bolts.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two Witnesses.

SAMUEL E. OVERTON. a s] Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner oi Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

